DE10018885A1 - Device for holding isothermal container at low temp. has insulating housing with opposing air inlet, outlet, fan that produces air flow from inlet to outlet along at least one cold storage plate - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a housing with a cold reservoir within the container (4) and at least one cold storage plate (6) that can be removed from the housing (5) and recharged in a freezer or similar. The housing is made of insulating material and has an opposing air inlet (13) and outlet (14) with an associated fan (15) that produces an air flow from the inlet to the outlet along at least one cold storage plate.

Description

The invention relates to a device for low tem temperature holding an isothermal container, with a housing, that delimits a cold reservoir in the container and at least can accommodate a cold storage plate that comes out of the housing removable and by storage in a freezer or Like. Is rechargeable.  

The storage or keeping fresh of various products, such as Food, at low temperature, d. H. between 0 ° C and 7 ° C in an isothermal container with insulated walls can reach different ways can be accomplished.

For example, as a permanent installation or in a refrigerator A cooling device with a freezer can be provided his.

Another known way to go at low temperature Keeping a storage space is using Cold storage plates, also known as eutectic plates be net, which consist of a shell made of plastic, in the an aqueous mixture is contained, which is well below the Ge temperature freezes and previously in a freezer Cold was charged, d. H. was cooled accordingly, where through the cold storage plate to a negative temperature is brought. The cold storage plates are in one a cold tereservoir forming space arranged, but always with the storage room below it, in which the products to be stored are communicated.

Finally, ice or dry ice can also be used is arranged in a cold reservoir, which is from the storage room is separated by an insulating wall.

Because of their high investment costs, the use of a cooling device is only possible for large-volume containers, whereas it is less to be considered for small-volume containers, ie for containers of the order of 2 m ³ . Such low-volume containers are those that are used by food suppliers or comparable service providers in the food sector.

Storage or keeping fresh with ice or Dry ice is disadvantageous for cost reasons, since either Feeder with liquid carbon dioxide or low temperature ratur Storage means are required, their investment for Applications in small unit volumes is too high.

The previously mentioned cold storage plates prove to be due their short useful life, but also because of their impermanence as inadequate.

In fact, these cold storage plates are generally in a reserve that constantly communicates with the storage room voir arranged without any regulation, such that the plates have the tendency to conduct heat to the ambient air, which flows into the storage space by convection, yours Losing cold content. It follows that the cold storage plates quickly save their stored cold content lieren as desired, so there is a risk that the on storage room prematurely reaches an ambient temperature that is above the recommended threshold, causing the required cold chain is interrupted.

In addition, the cold storage plates have a tendency to Start of the storage process, d. H. if with negative Temperature placed in the cold reservoir that is closest lying fresh products to be kept at a negative tempera cool down, what kind of products, such as vegetables and esp special salads, is harmful.  

Small-volume containers, for example in the rear part a small truck or in a trailer, or represent movable small containers are in particular interesting for small businesses due to limited financial resources cannot currently consider to equip the container with a cooling device, and the also does not have a delivery point for dry ice put.

At present such a user sets the life to be kept medium in small containers with small dimensions, the eutecti contain plates and put the small containers in Isothermal container in order to reduce the cold losses limit. These users have a need for one Device that not only quickly assembles in the container, but can also be removed again with little effort, for example when replacing the vehicle, the trailer or of the container.

The invention is therefore based on the object, a Vorrich to provide the device of the type mentioned at the outset In terms of their investment and their operation, they are not very expensive which is easy to use, which is a reliable on maintaining the temperature for the desired duration without guarantee any damage to the products to be stored stet, and suitable for low-volume isothermal containers is.

According to the invention, this object is achieved at the outset mentioned device in that the housing from a insulating material is formed, and that it is an air inlet  opening and this opposite an air outlet voltage, which is assigned a fan, which in the loading drove one in the housing from the air inlet opening Air outlet directed airflow generated at the flows along at least one cold storage plate.

In a preferred embodiment, the housing is made of this formed that it can be attached to a ceiling of the container can to a closed isothermal container with this form.

In a further preferred embodiment, the device removable from the container.

In a further preferred embodiment, there are several cold temperatures storage plates in the housing one above the other and / or next to each other arranged differently so that that generated by the fan Air flow can also flow between the cold storage plates.

In a further preferred embodiment, the fan is connected to a thermostat, which in turn is connected to one in the Box outside the housing temperature sensor is connected, the thermostat depending on the fan the temperature sensor switches on and off.

In a further preferred embodiment, the air inlet entrance opening and the air outlet opening closure means ordered that come in the open position when the fan is in Operation, and which is the air inlet opening and the air Close the outlet opening when the fan stops.  

In a further preferred embodiment, the air is opening on a vertical side of the housing and the Air outlet opening on a bottom of the housing of the air inlet step opening arranged opposite.

The device according to the invention is in terms of its handling easy to use and can be installed in one any isothermal container and quickly from it can be removed again, in particular the device in an isothermal removable or non-removable container of a small delivery van.

The cold storage plates are, when the fan is stopped, enclosed in the insulating housing by the air inlet Entry and air outlet opening through the closure means ge are closed, whereby any heat exchange with the Isothermal container is avoided and cold loss of the cold Storage plates can be significantly reduced. Once the in the Container-arranged temperature sensors increase the tem temperature detected above a threshold, the Thermostat the circuit of the fan, d. H. switches this a, whereby initially pressure changes in the housing of the device generated stanchions that open the air inlet or Air outlet opening cause what is in the housing directed airflow. This airflow sucks on the Cover of the isothermal container warmer air and forces them on the cold storage plates or between the Cold storage plates to flow, so that the cold Cooled air through the air outlet opening returns to the container and the temperature in the container,  in which the products to be kept or kept fresh lying down.

Once the temperature in the container has a lower threshold value has reached, the thermostat opens the circuit of the Fans, d. H. turns this off, which turns the Close the air inlet or outlet and close the Cold storage plates are again enclosed in the housing. As a result, the cold stored in the cold storage plates only according to the needs of the products arranged in the container consumes and lasts longer, making this device the low temperature over a longer period of time maintain and ensure the maintenance of the cold chain can afford.

Another advantage of the device according to the invention is in that it is quiet in operation and only a little elec tric energy consumed and therefore by a vehicle battery terie can be fed. Another advantage is that the recharge of the cold storage plates with cold outside the container, for example in a conventional one Freezer that can take its energy from the mains relates, and that the recharge of the cold storage plates can be done overnight.

Another advantage of the device according to the invention is in that the assembly time for installing the device in the Container is in the order of two hours and therefore is several times less than the assembly time of one costly cooling device, and that the invention Device can be easily expanded, for example in  In the event of an exchange of the vehicle reused become.

In a further preferred embodiment, the air is outlet opening and the air outlet opening through one or multiple parallel slots are formed, with one in relation to the direction of flow of the air stream downstream Side of the slot on the edge of each an elastic La melle is attached from plastic, which closes the slot and which are generated by the presence of the fan air flow takes off from the slot and if the Airflow rests elastically against the slot.

When the slats are in the closed position, they prevent any Liche air flow between the housing and the container and also rule out natural convection. You guarantee most thus in a simple and inexpensive manner Enclosure of the cold in the insulating housing of the front direction.

In a further preferred embodiment there is a second Temperature sensor of the housing near the least a cold storage plate arranged, with detection of a a temperature value reaching a threshold value by the Temperature sensor the fan is switched off.

It is preferred if this aforementioned second tempera tower sensor and the tempe located outside the housing temperature sensor that measures the temperature in the storage room detected are connected to the same thermostat.  

In a further preferred embodiment, the cold meal is cherplatten from a longitudinally corrugated central body and two side beads formed on both sides of the Extend middle body, with the beads between one above protruding upper rib and lower protruding lower Rib are formed such that by stacking the Cold storage plates corrugated aisles for air to flow through currents are formed.

This configuration also has the advantage that the Bauwei se of the housing is simplified that none on the inner walls Receiving and positioning grooves or ribs for cold spit cherplatten are required, as these are simple Sta Position peln on top of each other.

In yet another preferred embodiment, the Ge housing a U-shaped cross-section, the legs with outer angled evertings are provided, the housing is attached to the ceiling of the container, and being the housing in which between the ceiling and one of the vertical walls of the Container formed bracket attached with fasteners is that are fixed to the ceiling and by the angled um pass through the housing.

In a still further preferred embodiment, there is a floor the housing from the air inlet opening to the air outlet opening seen downward.

Further advantages and features result from the following the description and the attached drawing.  

It is understood that the above and below Features to be explained not only in the particulars combination, but also in other combinations or can be used on their own without the scope of the present Leaving invention.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawing and is described in more detail here with reference to this ben. Show it:

Figure 1 is a side view of a vehicle equipped with the device, partially in section.

2 is a partial view of the apparatus in cross section in an enlarged scale.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a game Ausführungsbei a cold storage plate;

Fig. 4 is a section along the line IV-IV in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 shows a longitudinal section through a cold storage plate.

In Fig. 1, the reference numeral 2 generally shows a vehicle in the manner of a panel van, the rear space 3 , which is accessible through side or rear doors, not shown, is formed by a removable or non-removable isothermal container 4 , the one Storage or fresh storage space forms.

The device according to the invention is essentially formed from a housing 5 which is suitable for accommodating cold storage plates 6 . The housing 5 is made of an insulating Ma material and in the illustrated game Ausführungsbei, as shown in Fig. 4, has a U-shaped cross section, the legs 5 a, 5 b with outer angled Umstül pungen 7 a, 7 b provided are, which allow attachment of the hous ses 5 ben 8 on the ceiling 9 of the isothermal container 4 by means of screw. The housing 5 , which is arranged in the between the ceiling 9 of the container 4 and one of the vertical walls of the isothermal container, in the embodiment of the angle formed in front of the wall 10 of the container, has on the side opposite this wall 10 End wall 12 on.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the end wall 12 is formed by a door. This door, which serves to insert the Kältespei cherplatten 6 into the housing 5 , can of course also be arranged on one of the longitudinal walls of the housing 5 , if this is placed at another location in the vehicle, and can for example be transverse.

The housing 5 has an air inlet opening 13 and an air outlet opening 14 , which are arranged on both sides of the receiving area for the cold storage plates 6 . The air inlet opening 13 is in the door or end wall 12 and the air outlet opening is in the bottom of the housing 5 at a be opposite the end wall 12 opposite point, accordingly near the front wall 10 of the isothermal container 4 , is arranged.

The air outlet opening 14 is assigned an electric fan 15 , the power supply 16 passes through the wall 10 and leads to a thermostat 17 , which is arranged in the driver's cab of the vehicle, ie outside the isothermal container 4th The thermostat 17 is in turn fed with the interposition of a main switch 18 via a power supply 19 which is connected to the battery of the vehicle. To the thermostat 17 lead on the one hand a Stromzufüh tion 20 , which is connected to a temperature sensor 21 which is arranged in the storage space or in the isothermal container 4 , and on the other hand, if necessary, a power supply 22 , which leads to a further temperature sensor 23 , the inner half of the housing 5 is arranged close to the cold storage plates 6 .

Both the air inlet opening 13 and the air outlet opening 14 are associated with closure means in the form of slats 24 , which come into the open position when the fan 15 is in operation.

In the illustrated embodiment, both the air inlet opening 13 and the air outlet opening 14 are formed by parallel slots 13 a, 14 a, with each slot 13 a, 14 a being assigned a lamella 24 made of plastic, which is attached and suitable at the edge of the slot, to close it elastically. The elastic lamellae 24 are arranged on the side of the air inlet opening 13 or air outlet opening 14 which are downstream with respect to the flow direction of the air flow generated by the fan 15 , which is illustrated by an arrow 31 in FIG. 2.

As shown in detail in Fig. 3 to 5, each of the Käl tespeicherplatten 6 made of a corrugated central body 6a and two lateral ridges 6 formed b in the longitudinal direction on both sides of the central body 6a extend and each Kältespei cherplatte to 6 in general a cross section in give the shape of an H. In a known manner, the plate is formed from a shell made of molded plastic, which contains an aqueous mixture 26 , the freezing point of which is dependent on the cold to be stored and, consequently, the desired storage period.

As shown in more detail in Fig. 4, each bead 6 b is arranged between an upper rib 27 which protrudes upwards and a lower rib 28 which protrudes downwards. The two lower ribs 28 of each cold storage plate 6 are adapted accordingly to insert between the inside of the upper ribs 27 of an underlying cold storage plate 6 . The bottom of the housing 5 has grooves or grooves 29 which are suitable for cooperating with the lower ribs 28 of the lowermost cold storage plate 6 in order to position them and to secure them against a translational movement.

Because of this design, only a stacking of the storage plates 6 in the housing 5 ensures the positioning and fixing of the cold storage plates 6 , 6 corrugated passages 30 for the flow of the air flow being formed between the cold storage plates 6 .

When the temperature in the storage space, ie in the isothermal container 4 outside the housing 5 reaches a threshold value, for example 6 ° C. for the storage of fresh food, the thermostat 17 , which accordingly receives a signal from the temperature sensor 21 , closes the power supply tion 16 and thus puts the fan 15 into operation. This commissioning has the result that a negative pressure is generated at the air inlet opening 13 and a pressure is generated at the air outlet opening 14 , which produce a deflection of the fins 24 at the slots 13 a and 14 a and the formation of an air flow directed in the direction of arrow 31 . Under these conditions, the warmest air that accumulates on the ceiling 9 of the isothermal container 4 is sucked into the housing 5 . In this, the air is forced to flow into the corrugated passages 30 between the cold storage plates 6 . This forced flow ensures cooling of the air before it returns through the outlet opening 14 into the storage area of the isothermal container 4 .

As soon as the temperature in the container 4 reaches a lower threshold value, for example 4 ° C., the thermostat 17 opens the power supply 16 and thus stops the fan 15 . During this stopping of the fan 15 , the elastic fins 24 come into the closed position and accordingly prevent any heat exchange by convection between the housing 5 and the isothermal container 4 .

In this way, the cold content of the cold storage plates 6 is only consumed as required, which avoids additional consumption for a stored amount of cold and the duration of maintaining the temperature in the required temperature range can be increased.

In addition, the inclusion of the cold storage plates 6 in the housing 5 prevents the negative temperature of the cold storage plates 6 from being transferred to the nearest stored products at the beginning of the storage process, where any risk of cold burn or other deterioration in quality due to excessive cold is avoided .

From the drawing it can be seen that the bottom of the housing 5 , to support the flow of cooling air between the Kältespei cherplatten 6 , seen from the air inlet opening 13 to the air outlet opening 14 is inclined downward, so that the formed between the cold storage plates 6 Gears 30 have a slope.

The inventive apparatus is very easy to use, since it is enough to fix the housing 5 to the ceiling 9 of the isothermal Be hälters 4 and to provide for the power supply lines 16, 20 and 22, a passage through the front wall 10 of the container 4, with the thermostat 17 , which is arranged in the driver's cab. The assembly time is of the order of 1½ to 2 hours and is therefore far less than 12 hours, which are required for the installation of cooling equipment. The same applies to the expansion of the device, which takes place much faster, so that the device can be reused very easily and installed in another container without the need for specialist personnel.

The temperature sensor 23 intervenes only to the extent that it interrupts the supply circuit of the Ven tilators 15 when the cold storage plates 6 can no longer provide sufficient cold. The temperature sensor 23 therefore has the function of avoiding unnecessary power consumption that drains the batteries of the vehicle if the main switch 18 has not been actuated by mistake after the isothermal container 4 has been emptied in order to switch off the fan 15 .

The device according to the invention not only makes it possible to use the cold stored in the eutectic cold storage plates 6 under improved conditions, but also to achieve a temperature regulated in the fresh-keeping room or storage room between limits that can be set by the thermostats 17 that can be actuated from the outside.

Claims (13)

1. Device for keeping an isothermal container ( 4 ) at a low temperature, with a housing ( 5 ) which delimits a cold reservoir in the container ( 4 ) and can accommodate at least one cold storage plate ( 6 ) which can be removed from the housing ( 5 ) removable and rechargeable by storage in a freezer or the like, characterized in that the housing ( 5 ) is formed from an insulating mate rial, and that it has an air inlet opening ( 13 ) and this opposite an air outlet opening ( 14 ), a fan ( 15 ) is assigned, which in operation in the housing ( 5 ) generates an air flow directed from the air inlet opening ( 13 ) to the air outlet opening ( 14 ) and flows along the at least one cold storage plate ( 6 ). 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing ( 5 ) is designed such that it can be attached to a ceiling ( 9 ) of the container ( 4 ) in order to form a closed isothermal container therewith. 3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it is removable from the container ( 4 ). 4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a plurality of cold storage plates ( 6 ) in the housing ( 5 ) one above the other and / or next to one another, such that the air flow generated by the fan ( 15 ) between the cold storage plates can flow. 5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the fan ( 15 ) is connected to a thermostat ( 17 ), which in turn with a in the container ter ( 4 ) outside the housing ( 5 ) arranged temperature sensor ( 21 ) is connected, the thermostat ( 17 ) turning the fan ( 15 ) on and off depending on the temperature sensor ( 21 ). 6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the air inlet opening ( 13 ) and the air outlet opening ( 14 ) are associated with closure means ( 24 ) which come into the open position when the ventila tor ( 15 ) is in operation and close the air inlet opening ( 13 ) and the air outlet opening ( 14 ) when the fan ( 15 ) is at a standstill. 7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the air inlet opening ( 13 ) on a vertical side of the housing ( 5 ) and the air outlet opening on a bottom of the housing ( 5 ) of the air inlet opening ( 13 ) arranged opposite is. 8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the air inlet opening ( 13 ) and the air outlet opening ( 14 ) through one or more paral lele slots ( 13 a, 14 a) are formed, one with respect to the flow direction of the air flow downstream side of the slot at the edge of which an elastic lamella ( 24 ) made of plastic is attached, which closes the slot ( 13 a, 14 a) and which in the presence of the air flow generated by the fan ( 15 ) of the Slit ( 13 a, 14 a) lifts and rests against the slot ( 13 a, 14 a) when the air flow is interrupted. 9. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a second temperature sensor ( 23 ) in the housing ( 5 ) in the vicinity of the at least one cold storage plate ( 6 ) is arranged, with detection of a threshold value reaching Temperature values by the temperature sensor ( 23 ) of the ventila tor ( 15 ) is switched off. 10. The device according to claim 5 and according to claim 9, characterized in that both temperature sensors ( 21 , 23 ) are connected to the thermostat ( 17 ). 11. Device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the cold storage plates ( 6 ) from a longitudinally corrugated central body ( 6 a) and two lateral beads ( 6 b) are formed, which are on both sides of the central body ( 6 a ) extend, the beads ( 6 b) between an upwardly projecting upper rib ( 27 ) and a downwardly projecting lower rib ( 28 ) are formed such that by arranging the cold storage plates ( 6 ) corrugated passages ( 30 ) to Formed by flowing the air stream. 12. Device according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the housing ( 5 ) has a U-shaped cross section, the legs ( 5 a, 5 b) with outer angular inversions ( 7 a, 7 b) are, wherein the housing ( 5 ) on the ceiling ( 9 ) of the container ( 4 ) is fixed, and wherein the housing ( 5 ) at the angle formed between the ceiling ( 9 ) and one of the vertical walls of the container ( 4 ) is fastened with connecting means ( 8 ) which are fixed in the ceiling ( 9 ) and pass through the angled inversions ( 7 a, 7 b) of the housing ( 5 ). 13. Device according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that a bottom of the housing ( 5 ) from the air inlet opening ( 13 ) to the air outlet opening ( 14 ) is inclined downward.